mfinard



Feb. 8,1927. 7 1,617,266

G. MENARD GAME Filed Aug. 5; 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Feb. 8,1927. 1,617,266

G. MENARD GAME Filed Aug. 5, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 Inventor Xney:

Patented Feb. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEDEON MENARD, OF VARENNES, QUEBEC, CANADA.

GAME.

The present invention pertains to a game which may be played outdoors or indoors and which is called the universal parliament.

The object of the invention is to provide a game which is free from roughness and is capable of affording beneficial relaxation to persons of all ages and to furnish to professional persons, business men, tradesmen, laborers and collegiates a wholesome distraction from the daily routine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game of the character described which will be useful from a moral viewpoint by reason of the reflections which it suggests upon the struggles of life and especially political conflicts.

The positions to be taken in order to avoid the adversaries from standing in the way, the obstacles to be avoided, the combinations to be constructed, to obtain as in actual life, the dominant and profitable situations are factors which may be combined into a powerful attraction as a gamev In brief, the object of the present invention is to provide a game which combines the useful and the enjoyable, being adapted for play by persons in all classes of society.

This game which applicant terms the game of universal parliament is played on a plane surface of appropriate size and divided into several sections each of which bears a distinctive name. Each section represents a chamber, so that the field comprises a chamber called parliament, another called senate, two lateral galleries, a zone of conflict and a zone of obstacles.

The game is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete game;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of the game;

Figure 3 is a detail view of one of the mallets used for striking the balls in the game;

Figure 4t is an elevation of a bridge erected at the upper end of the chamber of parliament;

Figure 5 is a detail view of the joint for supporting the bell on the bridge shown in Fi ure 4, illustrating the adjustability of the bell to the desired height; and

Figure 6 is a detail view of one of the obstacles used in the game.

iiinterence to these views will now be mad Serial No. 127,198.

by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figure 1 which shows in perspective the game as installed on a field, the nun'ierai 1 indicates the plane surface on which the game is assembled. This surface should pref erably be to long and 18 wide. Divisions are made on the field so that there are provided inv the first place two zones .2 of departure defined by metallic wires 3 placed (lush with the ground. Between these zones of departure is provided another section called the zone 4L of rest. The latter zone is to be occupied by players who are awaiting their turn to play and is provided to avoid annoyance to those who are using the mallets 5 for the purpose of driving the ball (not shown) to the other end of the field. The zone of departure is continued into another zone 6 which takes the form of a truncated triangle, the size of the triangle being defined on the one end by metallic wires 7 and on the other end by rails Shaving a lower edge of rubber for a purpose which is described below.

At the narrow end of the zone 6 is provided a series of obstacles 9 arranged in quincunx manner preferably nine in number. Immediately behind the zone of departure and the obstacles is formed a scoring zone separated from the latter by gate posts 10 situated as shown more clearly in Figure 2. These posts are preferably 10" in height and 12 long while their thickness is 6", but after 8 from one end the thickness diminishes to zero, and these tapered sides are placed face to face. The posts are connected by means of a metallic band 11 which is slightly curved as shown particularly in Figure 2 and the centre of which is formed to a height proportional to the size of the game. For example, in a game having a surface 5% by 18 the height of the centre of this metallic band from the ground should be 12". Immediately behind the gate posts is formed a zone of combat 12. This zone is likewise defined by metallic bands or similar devices placed flush with the ground. Immediately behind this zone is constructed a chamber 13 of rectangular form, called parliament, next is a chamber 14 having a triangular form and called senate, and finally there are provided open spaces between the parliament chamber and the senate chamber and representing the galleries 15.

The latter cnuutwr is defined at the sided and back by arubber rail similar to that ustd in the. zone oi departure already described,

The gate posts i-uenti-oi'ied above have each a different colour, for example one red and the other blue, in order to indicate the position of the players playing from the zones of departure. The players representing red play from the side in line with the red gate. and the others from the side in line with the blue grate. Above the cl iamber 13, called parliament is constructed a briiilge con sti-tnted by two cross i 16 as illustrated in Figures 2 and t, interser. at the centre. while above these strips are 'IH'Or'ldfild two other diagonal members 1'? which similarly intersect at their centre at double the height of the first intersection. The latter strips are secured to the forn'ier by means of bolts, rivets or solders and are joined at the centre by a joint supporting bell l8 suspended from beneath at a. certain distance from the ground and l'iavii'ig, its hainnie' 19 elevated at a sufficient height for engagement by the centre of the ball. The ball is adjustable in height and for this purpose the upper part is provided with a grooved sleeve 19 having! a set screw 20 for support by being secured in any appropriate position to the end of a spindle 21 extending from the belt or the shatt which binds the tour above mentioned transvers-ie members.

In the four corners of the bridge are provided posts 22 the bases of which are equipped with rubber and which are extended above the first tl'nHSfVQKfSG members 16 and terminate in a ball 23' or the like.

The obstacles previously described consist each of a stem 24 of iron half embedded in the earth if the game is to be played out of doors. The part disposed above the ground is provided at the base with a rub her band. 25 and the upper end of the stem is formed as a: ball or other ornament 26. These ol'istucles a re arranged in HliIU'HDX in the manner illustrated in order to allow to each player two clear lines oi sin-ht from the point of departure to thebell 18, but allow only one relatively straight path for the course of the ball.

The metallic wires se jiarating the various spaces or zones are held in place at the level of the ground by pegs 27.

In a game of the (l llllQDSli'JlliB stated above, the balls are zireterably 2% or- 254;, in diameter but all should be of the same size. The halls are torn'ied either of pressed rubber, a composition of cement, or hard wood.

The mallet is lined to the endof a handle 29 and one of the ends thereof is slightly shorter than the other, the shorter side 29 being finished as a mallet for croquet, and the l'ongerside 30 which has a slightly smallor diameter is finished like a billiard one. Each end of the mallet is covered with fibre.

of the zones of conflict, parliament, senate or the galleries. When the ball stops it scores for the players a number 01' points according to the zone in which it located.

it may now readily be conceived that the advantageous positions as well as the access to the chambers of parliament and senate are di-ilicult to reach because ot the obstacles and the two posts which protect the. entrance to the zone of parliament.

The goal being attained only by Slillflll strokes avoiding the obstacles, it follows that only after continued practice will it be possible for an expert player to send his ball into the most advantageous section. For example it will not be inappro n-iate to mention below the more important rules which I have determined for this game wliiich, as will readily be seen, is extren'lely attractive.

The game is played by two or four players in nine innings. In case of equal score an inning will be added with sixteen balls, eight red and eight blue (or any other colour desired). With four players there will be two partners haying, red balls and two partners having blue balls, the adversai e? 'ilayinp; alternately with. a. ball and being entitled to only one shot each time. The red balls commence the game at the side in line with the red gate posts.

In order to choose partners lots are drawn "from the numerals l, 2,. 3 and those drawing the numbers 1 and 8 will be part-- ners in opposition to those having numbers 2 and; An inning is ended when sixteen. halls have been played. Each partner has his own mallet whi'cl'r he may hold. until the end of the inning; and use one or both hands as desired- A player is entitled to only one shot for each ball; a: missed or poor shot is never taken over again unless the mallet or the ball oi? the player is (Zltlllilfitltl, in which case the shot may be played over.

The game is won by the players or the partners who obtain the larger numliier o1 points and the scores are indicated for each inning; on a special board provideitl for the purpose.

The points are scored. as follows:

(a) Five points ior a. ball which sounds the bell after a direct shot or in combination with other balls of the same player 01." partner but without touching the obstacles nor the balls of the adversary; the shot will also be valid if it is made in conjunction with the rails without touching the obstacles. It is for this reason. that the rails are finished with rubber.

(6) Three points for each ball which is found at the end oi? the inning in the senate zone is.

(0) Two points for each ball which is found at the end of the inning in the parliament zone 13.

((1) One point for each ball which is found at the end of the inning in the galleries 15.

From the number of points scored there will be a reduction for one point for each ball remaining in the zone of obstacles at the end of the inning.

A ball which at the end of an inning is not in one zone entirely will be counted as in the adjacent zone for which the smaller number of points is allotted.

Every ball having sounded. the bell will be counted moreover for its position at the end of the inning.

It will be evident that I have outlined only one set of rules for the game. The number of points and the rules in general can be changed according to taste and I re serve the right to make such modifications as may be found necessary in this manner. it'loreover the fore oing is a description of only the specific details of construction for the preferred form of the game, but it is evident that the form of the different chambers does not affect the principle, and I reserve the right to modify them without sacrificing the scope of the patent which will be granted to me according to the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a game of skill to be played with mallets and balls, comprising a plane reetangular surface divided into zones of departure at one end, the said zones having the form of two rectangles at corners of the plane surface, a zone of rest of square shape between the said zones of departure, a zone of obstacles continuing from the said zones, the zone of obstacles having the form of a truncated triangle, bands partially defining the sides of the said rectangle of its upper end, a plurality of obstacles at the narrow part of the said truncated triangle, a neutral zone of rectangular form, a gate separating the said neutral zone from the truncated end oi the triangle, scoring zone including a rectangular zone behind the said neutral zone and having its centre in the axis of the game, a triangular zone behind the said rectangle, and trapezoidal zones surrounding the said rectangle and said triangle, substantially as described and in the manner specified.

2. In a game of skill to be played with mallets and balls, comprising a plane rectangular surface divided into zones of departure at one end. the said zones having the form of rectangles at two corners of the game, a zone of rest of square form between the zones of departure, a zone of obstacles continuing from the said zones and having the form of a truncated triangle. the sides thereof being partially defined by rubber rails, obstacles in the truncated end of said triangle including a plurality of stems rubberized at the base, a neutral zone of rectangular form communicating with the zone of obstacles, two gate posts separating the said neutral zone from the summit of the truncated triangle, the said gate post-s having their inner surface cut to a taper and each having a different colour from the other, a scoring zone at the remaining end of the game and defined by a rubber rail, a rectangular zone formed in the said scoring zone behind said neutral zone and having its centre in the axis of the game, a bridge supported at the four corners of the rectangle and above the same, a bell suspended from the centre of said bridge, the hammer of the bell being suspended substantially to the centre of a ball on the ground, a triangular zone behind the said rectangular zone, and trapezoidal zones surrounding the said rectangle. substantially as described and in the manner specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEDEON MENARD. 

